I arrived in good time for my 1pm meeting with the joint company director. I’m pitching for business with her company, one of a number of potential suppliers looking to work with her company, so of course I am very keen to impress, to stand out amongst the potential suppliers, to be someone who can offer an outstanding personal service. 

I’m waiting outside her office, in the reception. An attractive young receptionist greeted me. She was dressed in the fashion of the day - revealing, but not too revealing; sexy, but messaging ‘you can look, lust but never ever touch’. I’m sent through to the director’s office.

“Good afternoon, I’m Susan. Good to meet you. Now let’s get down to business”. I would estimate she’s around 40, about 5’7” tall, lovely curves, busty, and dressed elegantly with a hint of sluttyness.

Needless to say, I will bend over backwards to win this contract; willing to consider anything that will give me a ‘competitive advantage’. She’s seen my proposal, inspected my figures, and is impressed. “But” she says “what you’re proposing is no different from your rivals”. She continues “there’s nothing here that stands out. I’d love to work with you, but I need to know where you have a hard advantage over your rivals. Show me how you’ve penetrated the market for your services”.

“I guess what I’m looking for is a proposal that has drive; what we used to call ‘spunk’ (when we were allowed to use that word, she adds with a smile). Do you think you can come back to me with a proposal that has that spunk?”.

“I’m sure I can”, I reply.”It would be my pleasure”. I take a moment to look around her office. It’s filled with the usual office ephemera. I notice a photo of a middle aged man in a tight wetsuit, worn as part of a triathlon no doubt. It hugs his body, leaving nothing to the imagination. Susan notices me looking at the photo “that’s my husband, he’s very much the athletic type”. “I can see that. Clearly he’s been well endowed with sporty genes”.

“Oh believe me he has” she adds with a smile “and it’s great working with him here too. His name’s Steven. Now, about that proposal….”. I go to gather collect my papers. “Where are you going?” Susan enquires “there’s no need to rewrite your proposal. If you are serious about wanting this contract, and I think you are, then you should be able to satisfy your client immediately. I can see you’re a hard worker. So, let’s see that spunk”.

To be continued….